Ursel family


d' Ursel is the name of an important old Belgian noble family of German origin. The chief of the House is styled the Duke of Ursel, others are Count d'Ursel.

History

The Ursel family roots are in Schmalkalden, Germany, and it originally had the name Schetzenbergh. In the late 15th century, some members moved to Hasselt and Antwerp. Amongst the family members we find Gaspard II Schetz, the Lord of Grobbendonck, who married Catherine van Ursel, daughter of Lancelot II of Ursel.
The three daughters of Lancelot II died without heirs, and by request of Barbe of Ursel, Conrad III Schetz was adopted by her. His descendants carrying the name 'van Ursel'. The ancestors of Lancelot II came from Antwerpen, and held important offices.
Conrad Albert, Baron of Wesemael and Lord of Highene was created First Duke of Ursel by imperial decree of Charles VI on 19 August 1716 and later he was created First Duke of Hoboken on 24 April 1717.
During the centuries the family had the privilege of being the hereditary grand veneur and Haut Forestier of Flanders, a ceremonial function at court of the Count of Flanders.

Patrimonium

Today the Ursel family still holds residence in a few important old castles like Linterpoort Castle, property of counts d'Ursel, Hex Castle property of count Ghislian d'Ursel and the large Castle of the Counts d´Ursel in Durbuy, descendants of Antony Schetz, Count of Durbuy. Moulbaix Castle, residence of the late Aymard, count d'Ursel was recently sold, after the last Countess d´Ursel died. Beerlegem Castle is the private residence of Count Hubert d'Ursel de Bousies, by marriage a descendant of Lopez-Maria Rodriguez d'Evora y Vega, 1st Marquess of Rode, the original Marquess of Rode. Another residence Smissenbroek Castle is the property of Count Augustin d'Ursel de Bousies, this castle comes from the same heritage of Rodriguez d'Evora y Vega and is family property since 1808.
The main summer residence of the family was d'Ursel Castle in Hingene, since the 18th century private property. Even today the main graveyard of the Dukes of Ursel is next to the church of Hingene. The successful restoration of the castle received the Flemish Heritage award.

Family

Members of the House of Ursel are allied to many old and important noble houses of Belgium. Even today these unions give them a large network in society. They are allied and married to the house of von Lobkowicz, Zu salm, Thurn und Taxis, von Arenberg, de Clermont-Tonnerre, de La Trémoille, Cornet d'Elzius, De Croy, de Merode, de la Rochefoucauld, de Riquet, Prince de Caraman-Chimay, de Lannoy, d'Oultremont, von Schönburg-Glauchau, de Brouchoven de Bergeÿck, de Spoelberch, de Broqueville, Visart de Bocarmé, de Hemricourt de Grunne, von Hohenlohe, de Villenfagne de Vogelsanck, de Bèthune-Hesdigneul.

Titles

The head of the family still holds old recognised titles, given from father to son for generations.

Descendants Renout, Mayors of Antwerpen

Reinout van Ursel/Ursene is considered the first Knight of Ursel, he was married to Sapientia Vele Roggemans.
,, 1st Baron of Hoboken was the son of Gaspard II and Catharina van Ursel. He named himself Conrad d'Ursel after 1617.
Simplified genealogy of the generations and direct line of Dukes of Ursel upon today.

Austrian and Holland period

Conrad-Albert, 1st Duke d'Ursel :
He married to Eleonore Christine Elisabeth zu Salm, daughter of Charles Theodore, Prince of Salm and noble lady of the Starry Cross.
  1. #Charles, 2nd Duke d'Ursel :
married to Eleonora von Lobkowicz, daughter of Georg Christian, Fürst von Lobkowitz and Henriette von Waldstein-Wartenburg .
  1. ##Wolfgang-William, 3rd Duke d'Ursel .
  2. ###Charles-Joseph, 4th Duke d'Ursel :

    Kingdom of Belgium

Charles-Joseph, 4th Duke d'Ursel :
Married to Louise-Victoire, princess di Masserano.
  1. #Léon, 5th Duke d'Ursel .:
married to Sophie d'Harcourt, daughter of Eugène, Duke of Harcourt.
  1. ##Marie Charles Joseph, 6th Duke d'Ursel.
  2. ###Robert-Marie, 7th Duke d'Ursel :
  3. ####Henri, 8th Duke d'Ursel, :
  4. #####Antonin, 9th Duke d'Ursel,
  5. ######Stéphane, 10th Duke d'Ursel,
  6. #######Matisse, Count d'Ursel.

    Count d'Ursel

Cadet family members are to beknown as Count or Countess d'Ursel.